Prague Castle dominates the skyline of Prague; it is a collection of ancient buildings, including palaces, churches and houses that would at one time have made up an entire village. You could easily spend an entire day (or longer) exploring it all.
The entry fee varies depending on how you plan to spend your time in the castle and it requires a little planning before you approach the ticket desk. The ticket staff were not interested in explaining the ticket differences and merely pointed to a sign.
1. Entry to the castle grounds is free, you do not need a ticket. You can wander around, see the hourly changing of the guard, explore the alleyways, enter St Vitus Cathedral (but not fully explore it), use the cafes (or take a picnic) and admire the great views.
2. Short Tour tickets cost 250Kc and are valid for entry on 2 consecutive days. This allows you full entry to St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, Basilica St George, Daliborka and Golden Lane.
3. Long Tour tickets cost 350Kc and are also valid for 2 days. In addition to the Short Tour attractions, this gives you access to the Story of Prague Castle, Prague Castle Picture Gallery, Powder Tower and Rosenberg Palace.
Neither of these combined tickets gives access to St Vitus Treasury or Lobkowicz Palace, these cost an additional 300Kc each.
There is plenty to see in the castle complex and everyone will have their own highlights, these were ours: The changing of the guard at noon – It's full of pomp and accompanied by a brass band playing from the windows above the courtyard. (Was that really the Stingray theme they were playing?) Golden Lane – a fantastic lane of little houses initially built in the 16th century by the sharp shooters of the palace guard to house their families. St Vitus Cathedral – the stained glass is spectacular The views over Prague from the castle area.
If you want to avoid climbing the steep steps up to the castle complex, take the #22 tram a few stops further on from Malostranska Namesti to Pohorelec. it' then just a short, easy walk back to the castle.
Some of the castle complex is undoubtedly wheelchair friendly, but there are a lot of small, cobbled areas and awkward staircases as you would expect in buildings of this age.
